Prevalence of Theileria in the tick Hyalomma detritum detritum in the Doukkala region,Morocco

Abstract. The overall prevalence of Theileria species, mainly, if not exclusively, T.annulata, in 901 Hyalomma detritum detritum collected from cattle in the Doukkala region of Morocco over a period of 2 years was 21.5%. The quantity of infection (number of sporoblasts per infected tick) followed the negative binomial distribution with between one and 250 sporoblasts per infected tick. Infected ticks were found in eight of fourteen areas examined whilst T.annulata was present in all fourteen. There were significant differences in both the prevalence and the quantity of infection between ticks collected from different farms, and between nymphs collected in the autumn from these farms, and moulted in the laboratory, and adults collected in the following summer. The prevalence, but not the quantity, of infection was higher in female than in male ticks. No correlations were established between infection of engorged nymphs and the breed, sex and Theileria piroplasm parasitaemia of the host animal. However, calves infected a greater proportion of nymphs than adult cattle and the heavier the infestation of nymphs on an animal, up to a plateau, the higher the prevalence of infection in those nymphs. There were no differences in infection between ticks moulted at 24^oC and 37^oC, after the engorged nymphs had been stored at 18^oC to simulate over-wintering.     

Levels of aflatoxin B1, bacteria and fungi in feed and food in 1971 — 1987

Totally 39% out of 8371 feed and their component samples were contaminated by aflatoxin B₁. Mean contamination was 36μg/kg with maximum yield 10100 μg/kg. Contamination of samples by total count of organisms, mean contamination and maximum yield, respectively was: 1) bacteria 99%, 2.2×10⁶, 2.4×10⁸; 2) proteolytic bacteria 94%, 1.2×10⁵, 3.0×10⁶;3) moulds 98%, 1.3×10⁵, 9.0×10⁶; 4) yeasts 44 %, 3.3×10⁴, 3.6×10⁶. The samples were contaminated in 92 % byAspergillus spp, in 71% byAspergillus flavus, in 83% byPenicillium spp, and in 20% byFusarium spp with mean contamination 8.3×104, 1.1×10³, 4.2×10⁴, 5.0×10³ , and maximum yield 6.8×10⁶, 1.0×10⁵, 5.0×10⁶, 1.5×10⁶, respectively. Totally 8.5% of strains were aflatoxinogenic and 4.4% of the strains were isolated from feed and 21 % of the strains from grain/nut.     

Naproxen and Cromolyn as New Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β Inhibitors for Amelioration of Diabetes and Obesity: An Investigation by Docking Simulation and Subsequent In Vitro/In Vivo Biochemical Evaluation

Naproxen and cromolyn were investigated as new inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK‐3β) in an attempt to explain their hypoglycemic properties. Study included simulated docking experiments, in vitro enzyme inhibition assay, and in vivo validations. Both drugs not only were optimally fitted within a GSK‐3β binding pocket via several attractive interactions with key amino acids but also exhibited potent in vitro enzymatic inhibitory activities of IC50 1.5 and 2.0 µM for naproxen and cromolyn, respectively. In vivo experiments illustrated that both drugs significantly reduced serum glucose and increased hepatic glycogen‐ and serum insulin levels in normal and type II diabetic Balb/c mice models. In obese animal model, both drugs exhibited significant reduction in mice weights, serum glucose, and resistin levels along with significant elevation in serum insulin, C‐peptide, and adiponectin values. It can be concluded that naproxen and cromolyn are novel GSK‐3β inhibitors and can help in management of diabetes and obesity. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J BiochemMol Toxicol 27:425–436, 2013; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/jbt.21503     

A metabolomics approach to investigate the proceedings of mitochondrial dysfunction in rats from prediabetes to diabetes

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus (DM) is a leading cause of preventable cardiovascular disease, but the metabolic changes from prediabetes to diabetes have not been fully clarified. This study implemented a metabolomics profiling platform to investigate the variations of metabolites and to elucidate their global profiling from metabolic syndrome to DM. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 44) were divided into four groups. Three groups were separately fed with a normal diet, a high-fructose diet (HF), or a high-fat (HL) diet while one group was treated with streptozotocin. The HF and HL diet were meant to induce insulin resistance, obesity, and dyslipidemia, which known to induce DM. Results: The most significant metabolic variations in the DM group’s urine samples were the reduced release of citric acid cycle intermediates, the increase in acylcarnitines, and the decrease in urea excretion, all of which indicated energy metabolism abnormalities and mitochondrial dysfunction. Overall, the metabolic analysis revealed tryptophan metabolic pathway variations in the prediabetic phase, even though the mitochondrial function remains unaffected. Conclusion: This study show that widespread methylations and impaired tryptophan metabolism occur in metabolic syndrome and are then followed by a decline in citric acid cycle intermediates, indicating mitochondrial dysfunction in diabetes.